Not too much brewing this down week between Christmas and New Years. Miami headed to Boise today, but when it’s not a BCS game travel days get no TV coverage. The Canes have been a forgotten bunch since Thanksgiving weekend.
Come Sunday, it’s blue turf time and an opportunity to get some good press and enter 2007 on a good note after a nightmarish 2006.
Earlier tonight Florida State mopped up UCLA, 44-27. I started watching the game not giving a damn what happened. For me, a win-win. Noles lose and go 6-7, I get to bust some friends balls. Bruins lose, I’m pulling that “state pride” and “A-C-C” card on my So Cal pals who trashed me all year when the Canes choked.
Miami plays Florida State and we settle it on the field, but rarely can I silence the UCLA and USC chatter. A head-to-head match up between two good conference teams is as good as we’ll get, so I’ll take it.
The late shift in momentum, defensive stands, kids with that bounce in their step and dare I say, “swagger” – it’s a Sunshine State brand of football and seeing it whoop up on the finesse conference like the Pac-10 made for a decent evening. Here’s hoping Miami does the same to Nevada on Sunday night.
Remind the nation these two recent dynasties aren’t going to stay gone for long.
Dirk Koetter is still the leading candidate, but will he uproot his family after six years living just outside Tempe, AZ? There’s your million dollar question. Koetter’s has four kids between 7 and 13 years old. He’s a west coast guy who just spent nine years as the top guy between Arizona State and Boise State. Is he willing to uproot his family and head to Miami? He still on ASU’s payroll and could afford to kick back and mull it over.
I believe Shannon is targeting Koetter big time. If he gets him, that’s a huge coup. It’ll take a hell of a sales pitch to get him here, but it’s a great way for Koetter to reestablish himself after seven topsy–turvy years with the Sun Devils. In the end, I don’t think Koetter will pack up the fam and put them through a Tempe-to-Coral Gables transition. Who does that leave? We’ll see.
Regarding guys leaving early, it sounds like Greg Olsen and Jon Beason are both 100% gonzo. I think the Olsen rumor’s been around since his big 3rd quarter catch against Boston College, but Beason will still be a surprise to me. I’m hoping for a last second change of heart.
The Shannon factor, a new regime, the opportunity to lead the defense, etc. Give that up if you’re a top fifty pick. Anything less, come back to The U. This could be the start of something special.
A triple overtime loss in the season finale (at West Virginia) is the difference between a meaningless December 28th bowl, big BCS money and a nationally televised January 2nd showdown in Miami against Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl.
Make sure to remind your Scarlet Knight pals about that – and their 1-2 skid down the stretch – when they get high and mighty over keeping the Home Depot coach of the year around until the Penn State gig opens.